Softing switching DC-to-DC converter with an active power sink circuit

ABSTRACT

The DC-to-DC converter including a boost converter circuit, a resonant circuit, and an active power sink circuit is provided. The boost converter circuit has a main switch for boosting a first DC voltage into a second DC voltage. The resonant circuit includes a unidirectional switch, a resonant capacitor, and a first winding of a transformer for causing the main switch to be controlled to exhibit near zero voltage switching. And, the active power sink circuit is magnetically coupled to the first winding of the transformer for draining energy in an inductance of the transformer off via magnetic induction between the active power sink circuit and the transformer, and causing the unidirectional switch to be controlled to exhibit near zero current switching.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a DC-to-DC converter and moreparticularly to a DC-to-DC converter with an active power sink circuit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a conventional pulsewidth modulation (PWM) boost converter 100. When a main switch 101 isturned on, a full bridge rectifier 102 outputs a DC power source to amain inductor 103. Thus power is transferred from the DC power source tothe main inductor 103 and stored in the main inductor 103. Meanwhile, amain diode 104 is reverse biased. Once when a main switch 101 is turnedon, power stored in main inductor 103 is transferred from the maininductor 103 to a main capacitor 105. In theoretical, by assuming thatthe main capacitor 105 is large enough and the main switch 101 is turnedon and off fast and periodically, electrical energy can be stored in themain inductor 103 and transferred form the main inductor 103 into themain capacitor 105 promptly. Thus the voltage across the main capacitor105 can be maintained at a constant voltage without load variationeffect.

[0003] However, during the switching operation of the main switch 101 inthe boost converter, the reverse recovery current of the main diode 104will cause the main switch 101 and the main diode 104 have a seriousswitching loss such that the switching frequency cannot be increased toreduce the size of the main inductor of the boost converter. Pleaserefer to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is schematic diagram illustrating anotherconventional pulse width modulation (PWM) boost converter 200. Theconverter 200 is provided to solve the above drawback. Basically, abranch circuit which has an auxiliary inductor 206 and an auxiliaryswitch 207 is added into the converter 200 in order to eliminate thereverse recovery current of the main diode 204. When the auxiliaryswitch 207 is turned on, the power of a main power source Vs is storedin the auxiliary inductor 206 and it causes the electrical energy of aparallel-connected capacitor 208 of the main switch 201 to be totallydischarged and stored in the auxiliary inductor 206. Thus the mainswitch 201 can be turned on under the zero voltage switching condition.Furthermore, when the auxiliary switch 207 is turned off, the electricalenergy of the auxiliary inductor 206 is discharged form the auxiliaryinductor 206 to a capacitor 205 through a diode 209. Therefore, thistechnique can solve the switching loss of the main switch 101 and themain diode 104 shown in FIG. 1, but the switching loss of the auxiliaryswitch 207 is still existed (the auxiliary switch 207 is turned off),and the EMI and the RFI problem will be generated. Meanwhile, the PWMboost converter 200 further includes a full bridge rectifier 202 whichis utilized to transferred an AC voltage into a DC voltage as a mainpower of the PWM boost converter 200. By utilizing the conduction of themain switch 201, the main inductor 203 can be charged by the main power.

[0004] For the above reasons, a need still exists in the art ofdesigning and manufacturing DC/DC converter to provide an optimalconfiguration for low switching loss. The improved converterconfiguration will be described in this invention as below.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to propose aDC-to-DC converter with an active power sink circuit for eliminatingswitching loss of a main switch of the DC-to-DC converter by utilizing aresonant circuit to turn on the main switch under the near zero voltageswitching condition and an active power sink circuit to cause aunidirectional switch to be turned off the near zero current switchingcondition.

[0006] It is therefore another object of the present invention topropose a clamped-mode DC-to-DC converter for generating a low voltageoutput and a high current output by utilizing a combinedtransformer-inductor device and a synchronous rectification circuit inorder to minimize the primary switch loss, synchronous rectifier loss,transformer winding loss and transformer core loss.

[0007] According to an aspect of the present invention, the DC-to-DCconverter includes a boost converter circuit, a resonant circuit, and anactive power sink circuit. The boost converter circuit has a main switchfor boosting a first DC voltage into a second DC voltage. The resonantcircuit includes a unidirectional switch, a resonant capacitor, and afirst winding of a transformer for causing the main switch to becontrolled to exhibit near zero voltage switching. And, the active powersink circuit is magnetically coupled to the first winding of thetransformer for draining energy in an inductance of the transformer offvia magnetic induction between the active power sink circuit and thetransformer, and causing the unidirectional switch to be controlled toexhibit near zero current switching.

[0008] Preferably, the boost converter circuit further includes a maininductor, a main diode, and a main capacitor in which when the mainswitch is turned on, the first DC voltage charges the main inductor andthe main diode is turned off, and when the main switch is turned off,the main diode is turned on and the first DC voltage and a voltageacross the main inductor charges the main capacitor to produce thesecond DC voltage.

[0009] Preferably, the main inductor, a first terminal of the mainswitch, and an anode end of the main diode are connected to a firstnode, and the other terminal of the main inductor is electricallyconnected to the first DC voltage.

[0010] Preferably, a cathode end of the main diode and a positiveterminal of the main capacitor are electrically connected to a secondnode, and the second node is an output terminal of the second DCvoltage.

[0011] Preferably, a second terminal of the main switch and a negativeterminal of the main capacitor are electrically connected to a thirdnode.

[0012] Preferably, the active power sink circuit is a push-pull DC-to-DCconverter including a fist switch, a second switch, and a rectifiedcircuit. The fist switch is electrically connected to a second windingof the transformer in series, and a series circuit of the fist switchand the second winding of the transformer electrically connected betweenthe third node and the second node. The second switch is electricallyconnected to a third winding of the transformer in series, and a seriescircuit of the second switch and the third winding of the transformerelectrically connected between the third node and the second node. And,the rectified circuit includes a secondary winding of the transformerhaving a first terminal, a second terminal, and a central terminal, afirst diode having an anode end electrically connected to the firstterminal of the secondary winding, a second diode having an anode endelectrically connected to the second terminal of the secondary winding,and a cathode end electrically connected to cathode end of the firstdiode, and a first capacitor having a positive terminal electricallyconnected to a common cathode end of the first diode and the seconddiode, and a negative terminal electrically connected to the centralterminal.

[0013] Preferably, the resonant circuit includes a third diode.

[0014] Preferably, the third diode having a cathode end is electricallyconnected to the first winding, and the unidirectional switch in series,and a series circuit of the third diode, the first winding, and theunidirectional switch is in parallel with the main switch and theresonant capacitor.

[0015] Preferably, the resonant circuit further includes a resonantinductor electrically connected to the first winding and the third diodein series.

[0016] Preferably, the transformer has a leakage inductance.

[0017] Preferably, the active power sink circuit is a full bridgeDC-to-DC converter.

[0018] It is therefore another aspect of the present invention topropose a DC-to-DC converter including a boost converter circuit, aresonant circuit, and an active power sink circuit. The boost convertercircuit has a main switch for boosting a first DC voltage into a secondDC voltage. The resonant circuit includes a unidirectional switch, aresonant capacitor, a resonant inductor, and a first winding of atransformer for causing the main switch to be controlled to exhibit nearzero voltage switching. And, the active power sink circuit ismagnetically coupled to the first winding of the transformer fordraining energy in an inductance of the transformer off via magneticinduction between the active power sink circuit and the transformer, andcausing the unidirectional switch to be controlled to exhibit near zerocurrent switching.

[0019] The present invention may best be understood through thefollowing description with reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a conventional pulsewidth modulation (PWM) boost converter according to the prior art;

[0021]FIG. 2 is another schematic diagram illustrating a conventionalpulse width modulation (PWM) boost converter according to the prior art;

[0022]FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a DC-to-DC converter with anactive power sink circuit according to a first preferred embodiment ofthe present invention;

[0023] FIGS. 4(a)˜(h) illustrate the different operation modes of FIG.3;

[0024]FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a DC-to-DC converter with anactive power sink circuit according to a second preferred embodiment ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0025] Please refer to FIG. 3. It is a schematic diagram of a DC-to-DCconverter with an active power sink circuit according to a firstpreferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, aDC-to-DC converter 200 includes a boost converter circuit, a resonantcircuit 306, and an active power sink circuit 307. The boost convertercircuit has a main switch 301, a main inductor 303, a main diode 304,and a main capacitor 305 for boosting a first DC voltage V₁ into asecond DC voltage V₂. Meanwhile, the first DC voltage V₁ is rectifiedand filtering from an AC voltage by a full bridge rectifier and afiltering capacitor. In this invention, the first DC voltage V₁ can be aDC voltage with a voltage ripple or a DC voltage without a voltageripple.

[0026] When the main switch 301 is turned on, the first DC voltage V1charges the main inductor 303. Meanwhile, the main diode 304 is turnedoff. When the main switch 301 is turned off, the main diode 304 isturned on and the first DC voltage V1 and the voltage across the maininductor 303 charge the main capacitor 305 to generate the second DCvoltage V₂.

[0027] The main inductor 303, a first terminal of the main switch 301,and an anode end of the main diode 304 are connected to a first node N₁,and the other terminal of the main inductor 303 is electricallyconnected to the first DC voltage V₁. A cathode end of the main diode304 and a positive terminal of the main capacitor 305 are electricallyconnected to a second node N₂, and the second node N₂ is an outputterminal of the second DC voltage V₂. A second terminal of the mainswitch 301 and a negative terminal of the main capacitor 305 areelectrically connected to a third node N₃.

[0028] The resonant circuit 306 includes a unidirectional switch 3061, aresonant capacitor 3062, a third diode 3065, a resonant inductor 3064,and a first winding 3063 of a transformer T_(ra). The resonant circuit306 is used for causing the main switch 301 to be controlled to exhibitnear zero voltage switching. And, the active power sink circuit 307 ismagnetically coupled to the first winding 3063 of the transformer T_(ra)for draining energy in an inductance of the transformer T_(ra) off viamagnetic induction between the active power sink circuit 307 and thetransformer T_(ra), and causing the unidirectional switch 301 to becontrolled to exhibit near zero current switching.

[0029] Furthermore, the third diode 3065 has a cathode end iselectrically connected to the resonant inductor 3064. The third diode3065, the resonant inductor 3064, the first winding 3063, and theunidirectional switch 3061 are connected in series, and the seriescircuit thereof is in parallel with the main switch 301 and the resonantcapacitor 3062.

[0030] Preferably, the active power sink circuit can be a push-pullDC-to-DC converter or a full bridge DC-to-DC converter. The active powersink circuit 307 includes a fist switch 3071, a second switch 3072, anda rectified circuit. The fist switch 3071 is electrically connected to asecond winding 3073 of the transformer T_(ra) in series, and a seriescircuit of the fist switch 3071 and the second winding 3073 of thetransformer T_(ra) is electrically connected between the third node N₃and the second node N₂. The second switch 3072 is electrically connectedto a third winding 3074 of the transformer T_(ra) in series, and aseries circuit of the second switch 3072 and the third winding 3074 ofthe transformer T_(ra) is electrically connected between the third nodeN₃ and the second node N₂. And, the rectified circuit includes asecondary winding 3075 of the transformer T_(ra) having a firstterminal, a second terminal, and a central terminal, a first diode 3076having an anode end electrically connected to the first terminal of thesecondary winding 3075, the second diode 3077 having an anode endelectrically connected to the second terminal of the secondary winding3075, and a cathode end electrically connected to cathode end of thefirst diode 3076, and a first capacitor 3078 having a positive terminalelectrically connected to a common cathode end of the first diode 3076and the second diode 3077, and a negative terminal electricallyconnected to the central terminal. Meanwhile, the transformer can be atransformer with a leakage inductance.

[0031] Please refer to FIGS. 4(a)˜(h) which illustrate the differentoperation modes of FIG. 3. The main working principle is shown asfollows:

[0032] Mode 0: As shown in FIG. 4(a), the operation mode is the same tothat of the conventional PWM boost converter which operates under adischarge mode. The electrical energy stored in the main inductor 303 isdischarged to the main capacitor 305 through the main diode 304. Becausethe second switch 3072 is turned on, the active power sink circuit 307receives the power transfer from the transformer T_(ra) to the firstcapacitor 3078 through the second diode 3077 the output of the firstcapacitor 3078 can be used for providing a power source of a fan, aprotection circuit or a monitoring circuit.

[0033] Mode 1: As shown in FIG. 4(b), the second switch 3072 is turnedoff, the exciting energy of the transformer T_(r)a turns on the bodydiode of the first switch 3071, and thus the exciting energy istransferred from the transformer T_(ra) to the first capacitor 3078through the first diode 3076. During the conduction state of the bodydiode, the first switch 3071 is turned on by an enable signal to causethe first switch 3071 to be controlled to exhibit zero voltageswitching. (Assuming that the exciting inductor of the auxiliarytransformer is very large, and the equivalent output capacitor of thefirst switch 3071 and the second switch 3072 can be neglect ed.)

[0034] Mode 2: As shown in FIG. 4(c), when the unidirectional switch3061 is to be turned on under zero current switching condition, thecurrent of the resonant inductor 3064 is increased linearly. When thecurrent of the resonant inductor 3064 is increased until the current ofthe main diode 304 approaches zero, the main diode 304 is turned off andto be controlled to exhibit zero current switching, and the operatingmode is terminated.

[0035] Mode 3: As shown in FIG. 4(d), when the main diode 304 is turnedoff, the electrical energy is resonated among the resonant capacitor3062, the transformer T_(ra), and the resonant inductor 3064. Theresonant behavior leads the energy of the resonant capacitor 3062totally released until zero and part of energy is discharged to thefirst capacitor 3078 and the main capacitor 305 through the transformerT_(ra). The operating mode is terminated until the voltage of theresonate capacitor 3062 is discharged to zero.

[0036] Mode 4: As shown in FIG. 4(e), when the voltage of the resonantcapacitor 3062 approaches zero, the main switch 301 is driven to beturned on. Thus the main switch 301 is turned on under the zero voltageswitching condition. The energy of the resonant inductor 3064 islinearly discharged to the first capacitor 3078 and the main capacitor305 through the transformer T_(ra). When the energy of the resonantinductor 3064 is totally discharged to zero, the operating mode isterminated. Because the switch 3061 is a unidirectional switch, theswitch 3061 is naturally turned of under the zero current switchingcondition, even though the control signal of the switch 3061 remains ata high voltage.

[0037] Mode 5: As shown in FIG. 4(f), the operating mode starts when theenergy of the inductor 3064 is discharged to zero. The operating mode isthe same to that of the conventional PWM boost converter which operatesunder charging mode.

[0038] Mode 6: As shown in FIG. 4(g), when the main switch 301 remainsturned on, and the first switch 3071 is turned off, the second switch3072 is turned on under the zero voltage switching by the excitingenergy. The operating mode is terminated until the main switch 301 isturned off.

[0039] Mode 7: As shown in FIG. 4(h), when the main switch 301 is turnedoff, the energy of the main inductor 303 charges the resonant capacitor3062. The voltage of the resonant capacitor 3062 is increased linearly.When the voltage of the resonant capacitor 3062 equals to the secondvoltage V₂, the operating mode is terminated.

[0040] Additionally, the first switch 3071 and the second switch 3072are turned on under 50% duty cycle.

[0041] Please refer to FIG. 5 which illustrates a schematic diagram of aDC-to-DC converter with an active power sink circuit according to asecond preferred embodiment of the present invention. The majordifference between the first preferred embodiment and the secondpreferred embodiment is that the active power sink circuit is a fullbridge DC-to-DC converter.

[0042] Owing to above descriptions, the present invention can provide aDC-to-DC converter with an active power sink circuit to eliminate theswitching loss of the DC-to-DC converter. Therefore, the presentinvention can solve the drawbacks of the prior art and has the practicalutility in industry.

[0043] While the invention has been described in terms of what arepresently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments,it is to be understood that the invention needs not be limited to thedisclosed embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover variousmodifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit andscope of the appended claims, which are to be accorded with the broadestinterpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similarstructures.

What is claimed is:
 1. A DC-to-DC converter, comprising: a boostconverter circuit having a main switch for boosting a first DC voltageinto a second DC voltage; a resonant circuit including an unidirectionalswitch, a resonant capacitor, and a first winding of a transformer forcausing said main switch to be controlled to exhibit near zero voltageswitching; and an active power sink circuit magnetically coupled to saidfirst winding of said transformer for draining energy in an inductanceof said transformer off via magnetic induction between said active powersink circuit and said transformer, and causing said unidirectionalswitch to be controlled to exhibit near zero current switching.
 2. TheDC-to-DC converter according to claim 1, wherein said boost convertercircuit further comprises a main inductor, a main diode, and a maincapacitor in which when said main switch is turned on, said first DCvoltage charges said main inductor and said main diode is turned off,and when said main switch is turned off, said main diode is turned onand said first DC voltage and a voltage across said main inductorcharges said main capacitor to produce said second DC voltage.
 3. TheDC-to-DC converter according to claim 2, wherein said main inductor, afirst terminal of said main switch, and an anode end of said main diodeare connected to a first node, and the other terminal of said maininductor is electrically connected to said first DC voltage.
 4. TheDC-to-DC converter according to claim 3, wherein a cathode end of saidmain diode and a positive terminal of said main capacitor areelectrically connected to a second node, and said second node is anoutput terminal of said second DC voltage.
 5. The DC-to-DC converteraccording to claim 4, wherein a second terminal of said main switch anda negative terminal of said main capacitor are electrically connected toa third node.
 6. The DC-to-DC converter according to claim 5, whereinsaid active power sink circuit is a push-pull DC-to-DC converter,comprising: a fist switch electrically connected to a second winding ofsaid transformer in series, and a series circuit of said fist switch andsaid second winding of said transformer electrically connected betweensaid third node and said second node; a second switch electricallyconnected to a third winding of said transformer in series, and a seriescircuit of said second switch and said third winding of said transformerelectrically connected between said third node and said second node; anda rectified circuit, comprising: a secondary winding of said transformerhaving a first terminal, a second terminal, and a central terminal; afirst diode having an anode end electrically connected to said firstterminal of said secondary winding; a second diode having an anode endelectrically connected to said second terminal of said secondarywinding, and a cathode end electrically connected to cathode end of saidfirst diode; and a first capacitor having a positive terminalelectrically connected to a common cathode end of said first diode andsaid second diode, and a negative terminal electrically connected tosaid central terminal.
 7. The DC-to-DC converter according to claim 1,wherein said resonant circuit comprises a third diode.
 8. The DC-to-DCconverter according to claim 7, wherein said third diode having acathode end is electrically connected to said first winding, and saidunidirectional switch in series, and a series circuit of said thirddiode, said first winding, and said unidirectional switch is in parallelwith said main switch and said resonant capacitor.
 9. The DC-to-DCconverter according to claim 8, wherein said resonant circuit furthercomprises a resonant inductor electrically connected to said firstwinding and said third diode in series.
 10. The DC-to-DC converteraccording to claim 8, wherein said transformer has a leakage inductance.11. The DC-to-DC converter according to claim 1, wherein said activepower sink circuit is a full bridge DC-to-DC converter.
 12. A DC-to-DCconverter, comprising: a boost converter circuit having a main switchfor boosting a first DC voltage into a second DC voltage; a resonantcircuit including an unidirectional switch, a resonant capacitor, aresonant inductor, and a first winding of a transformer for causing saidmain switch to be controlled to exhibit near zero voltage switching; andan active power sink circuit magnetically coupled to said first windingof said transformer for draining energy in an inductance of saidtransformer off via magnetic induction between said active power sinkcircuit and said transformer, and causing said unidirectional switch tobe controlled to exhibit near zero current switching.